Jayson Tatum relishing Boston Celtics’ Eastern Conference Finals rematch against the Miami Heat
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Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics (right) with Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers during the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals.
PHOTO: AFP
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BOSTON – Four-time All-Star Jayson Tatum is savouring the Boston Celtics’ Eastern Conference Finals rematch against the Miami Heat, after blitzing the Philadelphia 76ers 112-88 on Sunday with a record-breaking 51 points in Game 7.
The Celtics beat the Heat a year ago en route to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors. Tatum promised there would be fireworks when their rivalry with Miami continues this week.
“They make plays and they figure out a way to win games. It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be highly competitive. As a competitor, you just love the opportunity,” said the 25-year-old Tatum.
It will mark the third time the two teams have met in the conference finals in four seasons, after the Heat won in 2020 before losing the championship series to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Heat have enjoyed a charmed run as the first eighth seeds in nearly 25 years to reach the conference finals.
But Tatum’s Sunday show-stopper – with 13 rebounds, five assists and the most points ever in a Game 7 – surely sent a chill even through the balmy shores of South Beach.
“Being in another Game 7, being able to come back home in front of our fans, I was really excited for the moment,” he said.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said the performance was as much a credit to Tatum’s physical skill as his mental toughness, after overcoming a sluggish start to Game 6 when the Sixers had them on the ropes. Mazzulla said: “(Tatum is) just a guy who doesn’t get too high or too low.
“When you play like that and live like that, I think it works out for him... He’ll have the humility to just keep going.”
The Celtics and the Heat meet in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series in Boston on Wednesday.
Jaylen Brown added 25 points for the second-seeded Celtics while Joel Embiid, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player this season, shot five-of-18 from the field and scored 15 points. He was held to two points in the second half.
Tobias Harris led third-seeded Philadelphia with 19 points. James Harden finished with nine points, seven assists and six rebounds.
“We played great all year and this loss absolutely diminishes what we did in some way,” Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said.
“I think this team is headed right. I thought we took another step this season. And then tonight I think we took a step backward.”
Meanwhile, Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant, 23, is under scrutiny from the NBA again after he flashed an object that looked like a gun in a carefree manner during an Instagram Live video posted over the weekend.
The video, which appeared to be posted on Saturday, came just over two months after the NBA suspended him for displaying a gun
On Sunday, the Grizzlies said in a statement that they had suspended Morant from all team activities pending the league’s review of the new video. REUTERS, AFP, NYTIMES
